The Socceroos are set to take on Japan at Perth's Optus Stadium in June.ย
The match will serve as Australia's second-to-last qualifier in their mission to secure a sixth successive FIFA World Cup Appearance.
โThis rivalry is steeped in history and showcases the very best of Asian football, and we're excited to bring it to Perth, a city with a rich football heritage and an engaged fanbase,โ said Football Australia CEO James John, in a statement.
Japan's commanding nine-point lead at the top of Group C in the third round of the Asian Football Confederation's qualifiers renders their World Cup appearance all but secured.
The Socceroos currently sit in second place in Group C, following a hard-fought 1-1 draw against Japan in their previous meeting last October.
That match marked the only instance where Japan dropped points during the qualifiers - despite the Australian squad enduring a 45-minute delay on their team bus and being left with just 10 minutes to warm up before kickoff.
โYou end up just laughing,โ said midfielder Jackson Irvine, on the Socceroos Instagram match recap.
โLike, football's a funny thing when the circumstances are so out of your control, you're just like, well, what can you do?โ
Before Japan's June 5 visit to Perth, Australia will face Indonesia in Sydney on March 20, followed by an away clash against China on March 25.
